Ex-Chief of Defence Staff also linked to N4.4bn NIMASA fraud – EFCC

monjola sotubo

February 22, 2016 4:20 PM

The EFCC is said to be investigating the alleged diversion of the funds from NIMASA to the accounts of senior officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Alex Badeh

The

The EFCC is said to be investigating the alleged diversion of the funds from NIMASA to the accounts of senior officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), according to Punch.

“We brought Badeh and Yushau to Lagos to answer to fresh allegations. The MoU that was signed by Badeh was for NAF aircraft to patrol the creeks to prevent pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering,” an EFCC source said.

“As part of the agreement, money was transferred to the Air Force in two tranches – N1.4bn and N3bn – but the money was mostly in dollars. But the money was not used for that purpose.

“Rather, the MoU was a conduit pipe to siphon money from NIMASA to Air Force account and then to companies in which they had interests or their wives were directors or signatories.

“The money that was transferred from NIMASA to the Air Force was for maintenance of the equipment and the fuelling of the aircraft but the money, which was mostly in dollars, went straight into the accounts of Bureau de Change operators.

“The money was changed from dollars and then returned to the Air Force men. They then set up dummy oil companies, which made it look as if the companies were rendering services. They made it appear as if the companies were supplying aviation fuel to the NAF, which is not true.

“Investigations revealed that the companies were opened in readiness for money to be paid into their accounts. We discovered that in these companies, these officers have interest in it or their wives are directors or signatories to the accounts,” he added.

Badeh is also being investigated in connection with the $2.1 billion arms deal fraud which was allegedly spearheaded by former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

monjola sotubo